Florist News

I sent this to Carrington (on the dark side) and Jo Read from the flower council of Holland last Thursday and not had any answers so I thought I'd ask on here I've also posted this on the dark side.

Why do you think less than 100 shops entered this year from my point of view as a gold winner last year unless you were chasing the corporate £ you would not get any further.
I have just seen round 2 and that hasn't changed, we have built a good business over the last 12 years by doing most of the things that the FSOY wants you to do but in our own way, we have some very good account customers who we have gained though being good at our job and giving excellent service. At round 3 stage last year we found it nigh on impossible to answer the questions they way the FC wanted them answering, and knew we had no chance to progress I have talked to other gold winners who felt the same way. I do think FSOY is a good thing but feel that being a bloody good florist & gift shop who sell a lot of flowers (Traditional & modern) will not show up on the radar when the winners are chosen.
I'd be intersted to know your thoughts

Hi Jim, Am the same as you, flowers and gifts. I wouldn't enter as I've only been open 4 mths. Also I live in a funny area where there isn't alot of corporate work to be had. One of the local florists is married to the brother of the owner of two of the three hotels round here. I don't think the offices are willing to spend enough either to make it worth chasing that side. I think essentially I want a successful business that pays the bills with a few treats too! I don't want to be dictated to about what makes me successful, the customer spend tells me that. I'm not sure either if many consumers are even aware of FSOY or how impressed they'd be by it. I wonder if any of that sounds defeatist or lazy but I think as a new business I've got better things to worry about!

Perhaps a lot of the people who entered last year didn't get very far so this year couldn't be arsed with it?

We got silver last year, but I found it tough as a lot of the emphasis didn't quite tie into what we focus on as a business.

I agree with what Alice has said about not wanting to be dictated to about whether we are successful or not.

I do think the FSOY is a really good idea, from both the florists and the consumers point of view, but in the past two years that they've run it, the criteria seems completely different which I'm not sure I think is right.

Babble babble babble - I know what I want to say in my head, but I just can't quite get the words out!

I think time and effort was a factor is dissuading people, it was hard work compiling our entry and looking at the 2nd round assessment I just thought 'arrrgggh I can't do that'.

We too do our own thing, though some of it must tally with the FCH mould as we are through to the next round. I hear what they say about how corporate work is the one place where you can really grow your business, but I left corporate land to come play with flowers and really round my way it's like flogging a dead horse, there's so little to be had, so low value and there's always a kitchen sinker lurking to undercut us, I can't be bothered with it any more, there are other things I'd rather be doing that pay more money and are more fun. The corporate section is only one out of four so I have decided, whilst pondering on this this evening, that I will have a go with the next round, though I don't hold out much hope of progressing.

could have also been the time of the year!

people had just finished with the busiest season. so may not have had the time to do the work involved.

i know we were gonna enter and in fact prerpared something, but in the end decided not to submit it and wait till next year and be more prepared.

well just had baby and i still entered but got me no where still think questions were hard to answer if you don't work in that way"!

JIM- what did you start on the dark side!!!!!!!

well potty thats a good reason!!
how old is your baby now?

yes just read your post on the "dark side" shame about those samples you sent out.... at least you tried!!! will you try again or forget about it?

i just felt so disheartened i don't know will see

Joshua is 5 months old on 29th! and still wakes at 4am!!!!!

yeh im sure you did.

a cute age. what does he do now?
my baby is 18months not really a baby lol!
and she still wakes up in the night some times!! but she is just really spoilt.!! because she is so cute!!!

I just asked a few questions but its seems the thought police don't like it when you ask those questions, carrington does a good job for the industry and I'm with her on most things. but she gets pages every month to have her say about the things that bug her, I've just raised a few things of my own and if you can't do that on a forum without upsetting people, the world is going soft.
I repeat the FSOY is good thing but it seems you can't question it.